The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-13
THE WIDOWS REVENGE.
a Tale of Adventure in the Galtee
Mountains.

In the early part of the year 1867 was
travelling on business in the south of Ire
land, and one evening found myself in {
small town on the borders of the countie:
of Cork and Tipperary. The country was
Just then very unsettled, the trading classes
uneasy, the widest rumors being afloat re
specting the impending Fenian Insured
ton. The telegraph wires between Dublin
and the south were ~ut; the insurgents
were in possession of Cork and Limerick
shiploads of men were on their way from
England and America to aid the rebels
such were some of the canards that spread
alarm through the district in which then
was.
believed only small portion of these
reports, but enough to make me uncom-
Portable; and l determined to return 10 En-
gland at once. There was no vehicle to be
obtained, police officials and newspaper
correspondents having hired them all; but
Rs my host promised to send on my luggage
In day or two, l did not hesitate to face on
foot the distance between my inn and the
nearest railway station, which, by cut
across the hills, / was assured, was only
four miles away. set off, then, on the
sky was overcast, and a keen east wind
made my ears and cheeks tingle. The half
clad gossoon who served me as guide for a
part of the way trotted at my side, his
hands thrust into his pockets, his neck and
bosom bare, his trousers admitting the air
by score of rents. He had quite budget
of intelligence about the "boys," as the
Fenians were popularity designated, and
n txyifh "a foa hot hn
many of them. Were they dangerous!-
80 mol" he replied, laughing at the ques-
ton. "Tis only polls an sojers they'd
shoot; they won't harm any one else"
With this grain of consolation. 1 parted
from my guide at the foot of the Galtee
Mountains, and climbed the narrow path
way which he called a road Little round
stones slipped and rolled beneath my feet;
in some places the path passed by the brink
of depths where fall would certainly be
fatal; in others, it crossed the side of steep
slopes where it was difficult to maintain an
erect position. At length reached the top,
and congratulated myself on having &C,
complished the most difficult part of my
journey.
Far below, the path could be seen wind,
ing like gray thread. AS my guide said,
could not miss it. Snow now began to
fall, slowly, softly, silently, shutting out the
plain, and gradually narrowing my horizon,
until could only see few yards around
me. The path was soon obliterated, and
the ground became slippery. However,
feeling sure that I knew the general
direction OF the road, l went forward conf,
IDENTIFY. But it gradually dawned upon me
that l had lost my way, and / looked
anxiously round for some sign of human
life.
/ wandered on for some time, now plung-
ing into pit filled with snow, now stumb-
ling over some hidden stone, and at length.
when almost exhausted, reached a cabin,
where l resolved to seek shelter. Standing
near the head of a steep glen, the house
rested against the side of a cliff, which
sheltered it, while helping to support the
wooden roof Though the cottage was
diminutive, it looked clean in its fresh coat
of whitewash; and slender column of
smoke suggested warmth and food.
In reply to my knock, a woman Of about
fifty opened the door and bade me enter
She was tall, with good features, and an
air almost of refinement. Her black cap
and dress were fresh and neat; her manner
was reserved, though kindly, and the house
was as clean as such q dwelling could be-
But in the damp earthen floor aud walls, in
the meager furniture and the woman's
deeply lined face, there was evidencr of
poverty and care. told her my story, and
begged permission to rest for awhile.
"An' welcome, sir" she said, drawing to
the fire rush -bottomEd chair and desiring
me to be seated. 81 am sorry, sir, that
have little to offer you to ate, but"
hastened to assure her that was well
supplied; and emptying my haversack on
the table, showed that dearth of food was
not likely to cause me anxiety. 1t turned
out that was only three miles from the
railway station, to which good road led /;
and my mind being relieved On this point,
Iproceeded to make myself comfortable
We talked of the insurrection, and she was
much put out when spoke OF the rebels
defeat as certain.
Thin you don't think the boys will win,
siri"
impossible" 1 exclaimed. "They are
madmen to attempt it."
81 suppose you're right, SIR" she sighed.
s'This is the second risin' I've seen-me
poor husband was out in '4S-an' no good
can come of 'um. Poor lads, to throw
away their lives so foolishly. What's
that!" she asked suddenly; and seeing
her strain her ears, / too listened, and
heard dull tramp and the confused sound
of many voices Ny hostess sprang up,
filled with animation, and hastened to the
door, saying: "'Tis some o. the boysp
About a score Of men were scaling the
height before the cabin; and when they
neared the woman, she addressed them in
Irish: "How goes the causer'
Badly, missus," one of the foremost re-
piled. THE game is up, an daresay the
sojers is at our heels.'
The party advanced stragglingly, and en-
tered the house without ceremony. All ap-
peared to be of the humber classes-smalI
farmers, laborers, artisans-and were smis-
erably armed. There were few revolvers
and rifles among them; but old muskets.
swords, even scythes tied to stats formed
she Lulk OF their weapons. Their lea6ar